Back then, 15 per cent of UK consumers, based on YouGov's polling data, said they plan to buy a smart TV during the following 12-month period, and a further 16 per cent said they might do so.

That latter constituency now stands at 25 per cent, suggesting punters are opening up to the idea of owning a TV that can connect to the internet for extra - "over the top", as it's called in the biz - programming.

But only 16 per cent - a single percentage point up on the last time punters were asked - will buy a smart TV for sure.

Even if smart TV ownership doesn't increase, there's clearly an interest in IPTV. YouGov found that games console ownership "saw a big uplift" over the Christmas period. All of the current consoles can access one or more net TV services.

And consumers are interested in HD TVs. Flat-panel telly ownership rose four per cent over Christmas to 59 per cent of telly owners.

How many of those new purchases can connect to the internet but their owners are aware of the capability? A fair few, we suspect.

Either way, TV makers need to do more to promote the feature, especially with the likes of Lovefilm and Netflix promoting all the other options open to consumers to view their services. ®